On the Road With...Monarchs GuardTicha Penicheiro

WNBA players spend a lot of time on the road, whether traveling in the United
States for the WNBA season, playing overseas in the offseason or representing
their country in international competition. Monarchs guard Ticha Penicheiro has
certainly journeyed a long way from home in pursuit of top basketball competition.
She grew up in Portugal, but came to the U.S. to attend Old Dominion University
and has since spent eight WNBA seasons setting up teammates and making spectacular
passes. But she would be just as happy sitting on a beach somewhere or going shopping
at an overly-expensive store as she would running the show in Sacremento.

Q.
What are some countries you've gotten to travel to for basketball or personal
reasons?"I play with the National Team for Portugal and then play overseas
in the offseason so I've been all overů China, Italy, Russia, Poland, France,
Spain. This is a great job, playing basketball, because I get to see half of the
world for free. I would say Italy was my favorite. I'm really into fashion and
Italy is the capital of fashion. Portugal is my country, so I'm a little biased
when it comes to favorites. China and Australia were nice, too."

Having
grown up on the Atlantic beaches of Portugual, Penicheiro loves the
sand between her toes. Rocky Widner/NBAE/Getty Images

Q. What is one place you haven't been that you would like to see?"I
would love to go to Kenya and do a safari. One of my best friends lived in Mozambique
and I would love to see Africa."

Q. What is your favorite place to go
on vacation?"Anywhere tropical, where there is hot, white sand and a beach.
It doesn't matter where. I was in the Bahamas and had a great time. It was breathtaking."

Q.
If you had to choose, would you spend your free time on a beach, hiking and camping
out or visiting a museum?"On the beach, hands down!"

Q.
What are your favorite WNBA cities to visit?"It used to be Miami, but
now that we don't have a team there anymore, I'd say Houston and New York."

Q.
What is the best WNBA city to go out shopping and what are your favorite stores?
"Houston has the Galleria Mall. It is unbelievable. I always make
a trip there. I like Armani, Gucci and all of the expensive stuff that we can't
afford."

Q. What is the best WNBA city to go out to eat? What are some
of your favorite restaurants?"I would say Los Angeles. One of my favorites
is Beni-hana. I love Asian food - Chinese, Japanese. Mister Chow is very popular
in L.A., too."

Q. What are the best places to shop and dine out in Sacramento?"It's
hard to go shopping in Sacramento because there aren't many unique stores, but
I do a lot of shopping in Europe, either back home in Portugal or wherever I am
playing. It's great because when I come back here, no one has my stuff."